ACU enrollment hits record for third straight year

ABILENE - For the third straight year, Abilene Christian
University has attracted a record number of students from
nearly every state and more than 60 nations, said ACU
president Dr. Royce Money.

Official 12th-day enrollment totals show that ACU has
4,761 students this fall, compared to a record 4,673 in the
fall of 1999. Students also are taking more hours this
fall, said Jack Rich, executive vice president.

The university has increased total enrollment more than
700 students in the past 10 years, Money said. ACU is the
fourth largest of 37 independent universities in Texas,
according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.

"We offer a distinctive education - high quality
academics blended with a serious Christian focus," Money
said. "More students are recognizing that ACU opens career
doors for them, gets them into excellent graduate schools
and prepares them for the challenges of life."

Money said the word is spreading that ACU graduates have
a special blend of high-tech understanding, excellent career
preparation and integrity.

"We believe this world is looking for college graduates
who can change the world with strong ethics and insightful
knowledge," Money said. "Our students are accepted into
medical school at twice the national average, top
corporations heavily recruit our seniors, and churches and
schools believe our graduates make outstanding
employees."

This year, ACU moved up four places in the U.S. News
"Best Colleges" rankings, maintaining its high-quality
status for the seventh straight year. ACU moved from 23rd
to 19th among the 112 western regional universities - 53
private and 59 public - in 15 states, said Dr. Royce Money,
ACU president.

The university was named one of the "Best Regional
Universities" and is considered "selective" in its
admissions standards.

Enrollment Numbers: Based on Official Press
Releases

Year

New Students to
ACU

Total
Enrollment

2000

1,276

4,761

1999

1,193

4,673

1998

1,202

4,643

1997

.

4,542

1996

4,397

1995

.

4,436

1994

4,207

1993

.

4,065

1992

4,055

1991

.

3,946

1990

4,053

1989

.

4,186

1988

4,181

1987

.

4,187

1986

4,302

1985

.

4,502*

1984

4,617

1983

.

4,627

1982

4,546

1981

.

4,517

1980

4,560

1979

.

4,372

*No press release is archived for this
year. This number is based on the 1986 release statement
that enrollment for that year was down 200 from the
previous year.

If you are a member of the media who would like more
information about this release, please contact Tom
Craig, director of media and community relations, at
craigt@acu.edu or call
915-674-2692 (cell phone: 665-5469).